Birdsboro shooting suspect charged with sex crimes involving teen

BIRDSBORO — The Birdsboro man accused of shooting his girlfriend’s ex-husband is now charged with numerous sex crimes involving a teen girl.

Christopher D. Yingling, 42, of the 500 block of West Second Street, who was previously charged with shooting Limerick fire official Glen Russell on Jan. 24 in his car in a Berks County parking lot, was charged Wednesday with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sex assault, aggravated indecent assault, prostitution, producing and presenting obscene sexual materials and performance, as well as other similar offenses, all involving a girl under the age of 15.

“This is just the most disturbing number of facts I’ve seen,” Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Thursday.

Berks County Detectives began an investigation into Yingling after Birdsboro Police received a report of the girl being physically abused by Yingling, according to a press release issued Thursday from the Berks County District Attorney’s office.

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The report stemmed from a June incident during which Yingling allegedly punched the girl in the face, causing a fractured nose, the release said. The victim also reported being “punched and kicked” at other times in the past.

Police turned over the investigation to county detectives Jan. 19, several days before Yingling’s alleged shooting of Russell.

Russell’s ex-wife is Yingling’s girlfriend with whom he shares a residence, police said.

The investigation uncovered that the victim was allegedly abused for “years” and she “cited a series of events ranging from June 1 to Dec. 27, 2011,” according to the release.

During that time, Yingling allegedly took cell phone pictures of the naked victim and sent them to others, police said.

Yingling is also accused of sexually assaulting and raping the girl, as well as “physically (forcing) the victim to call his friends on a cellular telephone and offer sexual acts with the victim in exchange for money.”

“It’s somewhat rare that we’ve seen a case where the victim has not only been sexually abused but this child was also physically abused,” Adams said. “Then, to top it off, the perpetrator, Mr. Yingling, went so far as to offer to prostitute this child.”

As far as the people that received the photos of the victim, as well as the calls, Adams said he was “certain” the investigation was ongoing to uproot them.

Charges were filed May 16 and Yingling was arraigned Thursday, May 17. His bail was set at $200,000 and he was recommitted to Berks County Prison, where he has been since being charged for the shooting incident. His bail for the alleged shooting was previously set at $400,000.

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.